Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy will hand over keys to beneficiaries of the Indiramma housing scheme at a house-warming ceremony in Bendalampadu village in Chandrugonda mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district on Wednesday, marking what the govt calls the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream for thousands of poor families.Housing minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy described the event as “historic,” alleging that the previous BRS govt had denied housing to the poor for 10 years. He said the Congress govt has sanctioned 4.5 lakh Indiramma houses in the first phase, at a cost of ₹22,500 crore to be spent by 2028. The scheme was relaunched at Bhadrachalam, and the house-warming is also being held on Bhadradri soil, he said. “Since taking office, the Congress govt has strengthened the housing department and sanctioned houses in a transparent manner. Wherever irregularities surfaced, officials were suspended and cases handed over to the ACB,” the minister said. Deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka, who is monitoring implementation, appealed to the cement and steel industries to extend support to the scheme by supplying materials at reduced rates on humanitarian grounds. Along with industries minister D Sridhar Babu, he held a review meeting with industry representatives at the secretariat, urging them to back the “massive welfare initiative launched with a noble vision.” Sridhar Babu said that with Telangana emerging as a hub for global companies, demand for cement and steel will surge in the coming years. “This welfare scheme for poor families is being implemented in the state after a gap of 10 years, since the Congress govt came into office. All companies, big or small, should supply cement and steel at uniform and reduced prices. Telangana is promoting industries on a large scale, with global companies expanding not only in Hyderabad but across the state. With huge demand for cement and steel expected in the future, industries must ensure quality products at affordable rates in line with the govt’s initiatives,” Sridhar Babu said.Officials estimated that construction of the 4.5 lakh houses will require 50 lakh metric tonnes of cement and 27.75 lakh metric tonnes of steel over the next three years. Industry representatives assured the govt that further discussions would be held soon to finalise reduced prices.
